European Football Tournament - Nagelsmann's reluctance to cope without Sané.
Julian Nagelsmann began the process of preparing for the European Championship at home in top shape. However, there are numerous uncertainties regarding the fitness levels of certain players in the initial 27-man team, most notably Leroy Sané.
The 28-year-old Bayern Munich forward, who is capable of causing havoc for any opposition with his speed and agility, has been restricted to sporadic appearances and relied on painkillers in Munich. The same goes for his colleague Jamal Musiala (21).
Sané grapples with problematic hip issues, while Musiala has a tendon irritation in his knee. The duo last featured together in the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid. Following this, both players received rest and recovery time in preparation for the European Championship.
"Jamal is doing well"
We might get an initial indication of their availability at the first training session with the German team on Monday afternoon in Jena. Will Musiala and Sané participate? Nagelsmann himself is intrigued due to his inside knowledge. "I know the training load over the last few weeks. When they played and why they didn't, I'm aware of that," Nagelsmann stated recently. "Jamal, in my opinion, is doing well," he said hopefully about Musiala's situation.
And what of Sané? Nagelsmann can't yet disclose his role. "Sané has a hip problem that's just frustrating. We'll see if he can fully participate in every training session. That's difficult to predict," the national coach said. Yet an EM team without Sané is not an ideal scenario for Nagelsmann.
Sané's "exceptional quality"
"The player possesses an exceptional quality in attacking position, which I didn't want to surrender," Nagelsmann elaborated. Sané can be a game-changer. A player capable of sealing and winning games with his goals and assists.
As Sané missed the successful March friendlies against France and the Netherlands due to suspension, as well as the penultimate EM rehearsal match against Ukraine on June 3 in Nuremberg, he might initially be used as a reserve.
An offensive quartet featuring Gündogan, Wirtz, Musiala, and Havertz is the present starting eleven. "We're hoping that Leroy is almost pain-free. The doctor and also Leroy himself are doing well," Nagelsmann reported: "But we're not fortune-tellers, something could still turn up during the tournament."
Sané's high potential is the rationale for including the Hoffenheim newcomer, Maximilian Beier (21), in the preliminary EM squad. "He's a promising player in the attacking position. And he's a player who can step in if Sané's speed is missing," Nagelsmann explained.
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- Despite the uncertainty surrounding Leroy Sané and Jamal Musiala's fitness, Julian Nagelsmann is preparing the German national team meticulously for the European Championship.
- Nagelsmann has expressed hope about Musiala's situation, indicating that he's doing well following a tendon irritation.
- Sané's hip problem, however, remains a concern for Nagelsmann, as he grapples with the prospect of missing out on the full training sessions.
- The absence of Sané in the European Championship team would not be an ideal scenario for Nagelsmann, given his exceptional quality and ability to change the game.
- In case Sané's speed is missing, Nagelsmann has included Maximilian Beier in the preliminary EM squad to provide cover.
- The current starting eleven for the German team includes Gündogan, Wirtz, Musiala, and Havertz, with Sané potentially serving as a reserve due to his suspension.
- The German national team's preparations for the European Championship have taken them to various locations, including Munich, Bavaria, Jena in Thuringia, and Blankenhain.
- The European Football Championship is not the only platform where Nagelsmann and Sané's talents are being closely watched; their performances in the Champions League, particularly against Real Madrid, have also garnered attention from football enthusiasts worldwide.
Source: www.stern.de
